§ THE EARL OF DERBYwished to put a Question to the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack in reference to a matter in which he took a deep interest when 219 he was not in office—he meant the state of the Clock attached to the new Houses of Parliament. The noble and learned Lord had been accustomed to complain of the silence of the clock in former times, and he had no doubt that he had endeavoured to impress his views upon his present colleagues. They all knew the circumstances under which they had been deprived of the doubtful advantage of hearing the tones of the great bell; but when a dock ceased to address itself to the sense of hearing, that was no reason why it should decline to present itself to the sense of sight. One of the hands had disappeared altogether, and the other stood at twelve, so that it had the merit of being right at least once in the twelve hours. He had no doubt the noble and learned Lord had directed the attention of his Colleagues to the subject, and, if so, he should like to hear from him, for the sake of their Lordships and the lawyers in Westminster Hall, that his efforts were likely to be attended with a satisfactory result.
THE LORD CHANCELLORthought the noble Earl ought to have given notice of his Question. Certainly the clock was not in Chancery, or in these days it would have gone on more satisfactorily. However, he thought the noble Earl could not, with a very good grace, make any complaint on the subject, considering how long a period was taken to repair the clock when he was in office, and the condition in which he had left it to his successors. It could not be denied that the clock was in the worst possible condition. After all, however, the reform of the clock had proceeded as fast as the Reform of Parliament.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYThen I gather that there is to be no alteration, at least this Session.
§ EARL GREY, in common with all the inhabitants of that part of London in which he lived, rejoiced that the great bell had been cracked, and he trusted that no attempt would be made to make the clock speak to their ears again in the old tones. He should like to see the hands in motion again, but he hoped the bell would remain mute.